Threshers Rally From 4 Down For a Big Win!

The Clearwater Threshers took on the Daytona Cubs on Saturday night in their series finale. Each team has one win in the series so far, so this was for bragging rights.

Michael Cisco got the start for the Threshers seeing his first action of the season after spending the first month of the year on the DL. The Cubs got to him early picking up two runs on him in the second inning on a 2-run home run from Dylan Johnston of Daytona.

In the fourth inning the Threshers got their first chance to climb back into the game by loading the bases with just one out, but could not get a runner across the plate as Mike Durant flew out to shallow right, and Derrick Mitchell went down on strikes to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth the Cubs would add to their lead with an RBI single scoring one run, and then a wild pitch to allow a runner to score making the lead 4-0 going into the fifth inning.

In the fifth the Threshers got their first three hitters on base with Fidel Hernandez, and Javis Diaz picking up singles, and then Jesus Villegas put down a sac bunt but reached on an error. Dominic Brown then picked up his second hit of the night to cut the team’s deficit in half as 4-2 and still with two men on and no outs. Matt Rizzotti stepped to the plate and kept things going by crushing his third home run of the year, and just like that the Threshers were on top 5-4. (If you are a FACEBOOK user you can follow this link to find out which Matt Rizzotti Super Power you possess.)

One inning later the Threshers added two runs on an inside the park home run from Dominic Brown when two Daytona outfielders collided trying to make a play and the ball rolled all the way to the wall. Fidel Hernandez also scored on the play after leading off the inning with his third hit of the night. Unfortunately both of the Cubs outfielders were injured on the play and had to be attended to by medical personnel. After several tense minutes the players seemed to be okay, but were taken off the field on stretchers for precautionary purposes. Best wishes to Tyler Colvin and Tony Campana the two injured Cubs on a speedy recovery.

After a delay of about 30 minutes the game finally resumed with some major defensive changes for the Cubs. They were able to get out of the inning with no further damage, but their offense was set down in order by the red hot Chance Chapman on the mound in his second inning of work for the Threshers.

In the top of the seventh the Threshers picked up their third home run of the game when Joel Naughton crushed a lead-off dinger to make things 8-4 Threshers. After two outs Fidel Hernandez picked up his fourth hit of the night, then Javis Diaz and Jesus Villegas would both reach to load the bases. Dominic Brown picked up his fourth hit and added two more RBIs to bring his total to six on the night. The team added another run with Villegas coming home on a passed ball, and at the seventh inning stretch it was Threshers 11, Cubs 4.

Chris Kissock would come on from the bullpen for the Threshers in the seventh frame. He would get three Ks in the inning, but also gave up two hits, including a triple that later resulted in a run for the Cubs to cut the Threshers lead to 11-5 after seven full innings. The Cubs picked up one more run off of Kissock in the eighth inning on a two-out home run.

Dan Brauer would pitch the final frame for the Threshers giving up a walk, but no hits to secure the Threshers victory 11-6 on the night.

Dominic Brown picked up the SCHMIDT LIST player of the game award. He had a prolific night with four hits, including an inside-the-park home run, and six RBIs.